Transmission cylinder without axial limitation

ABSTRACT

A transmission cylinder without axial limitation. A piston is disposed in the transmission cylinder. Multiple flexible members are disposed on one side of the piston. A resilient member is fitted around the flexible members. Each flexible member extends within a guide member which is fixed at a portion of a certain structure. The piston is driven by a power source, whereby the flexible members are flexibly moved along and within the guide member to transmit power in multiple axial directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to a transmission cylinder without axial limitation, and more particularly to a transmission cylinder which is able to transmit power in multiple axial directions.

[0002] A conventional pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder can only transmit power linearly. When transmitting power in other direction, many gear sets are necessary.

[0003] In order to transmit the power in other axial direction, as shown in FIG. 9, the front end of the stem 51 of the conventional pneumatic cylinder 50 has a rack section 32 which drivingly meshes with a gear 53. A second gear 531 is coaxially coupled with the gear 53 and engaged with another rack 54. The rack 54 further drives a driven member (not shown ) so as to transmit power in other axial direction.

[0004] The above arrangement includes multiple components such as gears, racks, etc. so that the structure is complicated and the cost is increased. Moreover, the volume of such structure is enlarged so that the pneumatic cylinder can be hardly applied to those driving mechanisms demanding small volume.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a transmission cylinder without axial limitation. The piston in the transmission cylinder is drivingly connected with at least one steel cord and the guide member for guiding the steel cord is arranged in a direction other than the axis of the piston. Therefore, when the transmission cylinder is driven by a power source, the multiple steel cords can at the same time transmit power to multiple driven members in multiple axial directions.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above transmission cylinder which is composed of a transmission cylinder, a steel cord and a guide member to achieve power transmission in different axial direction. The transmission cylinder has fewer components and the assembly thereof is simple. In addition, the volume of the assembled mechanism is not enlarged and the interior space of the mechanism is not occupied.

[0007] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above transmission cylinder which the multiple steel cords can have different lengths. When the piston is pushed, the steel cords can transmit power to the driven members with time difference. Therefore, they can drive those driven members demanding time difference in operation.

[0008] The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a sectional assembled view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention prior to driving;

[0012]FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention after driving;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a sectional assembled view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention prior to driving;

[0016]FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention after driving;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a sectional assembled view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 8A is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention prior to driving;

[0019]FIG. 8B is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention after driving; and

[0020]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional transmission cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The transmission cylinder 10 of the present invention is a mono-directional operable cylinder having one single inlet 11 on one side. A sealing cap 12 is disposed on the other side of the transmission cylinder 10. The sealing cap 12 is formed with a through hole 121. A piston 13 is mounted in the transmission cylinder 10 to divide the interior space thereof into a first space 101 and a second space 102.

[0022] At least one flexible member is disposed on the piston 13 distal from the inlet 11. In this embodiment, the flexible member is a steel cord 14 which outward extends through the through hole 121 of the sealing cap 12. A resilient member 15 is fitted around a section of the steel cord 14 inside the transmission cylinder 10. Two ends of the resilient member 15 respectively abut against the adjacent sides of the piston 13 and the sealing cap 12. In this embodiment, the resilient member 15 is a compression spring positioned between the piston 13 and the sealing cap 12. In normal state, the resilient member 15 makes the second space 102 larger than the first space 101. The inner diameter of the resilient member 15 is slightly larger than the total diameter of the steel cord 14, whereby when the piston 13 is pushed, the steel cord 14 is prevented from being over-flexed.

[0023] In addition, the steel cord 14 is extended into a guide member 16 which in this embodiment is a conduit or a guide rail. The guide member 16 is fixed at a portion of a certain structure (not shown ). By means of push of the piston 13, the steel cord 14 can flexibly move along and within the guide member 16 to transmit power.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3A, the transmission cylinder 10 is mounted in a structure and driven by a power source which can be pneumatic measure or hydraulic measure. Air pressure gets into the first space 101 of the transmission cylinder 10 through the inlet 11 and is evenly distributed over the first space 101 to pressurize the piston 13. When the exerted pressure is greater than the resilient force of the resilient member 16, the piston 14 is pushed to compress the resilient member 15 between the piston 13 and the sealing cap 12. At this time, the air in the second space 102 directly escapes from the sealing cap 12 and the steel cord 14 disposed on the piston 13 is moved along and within the guide member 16. Under such circumstance, the driven member A fixed at the other end of the steel cord 14 is pushed as shown in FIG. 3B. Accordingly, the power is transmitted to the driven member A.

[0025] When the power source is removed from the inlet 11, the resilient member 15 resiliently restores to make the air in the first space 101 directly escape from the inlet 11. At this time, the piston 13 is restored to its home position and the steel cord 14 is pulled back along the guide member 16. Accordingly, the driven member A is restored to its home position to complete a cycle of power transmission.

[0026] In this embodiment, there are at least two steel cords 14 with different lengths. When the piston 15 is pushed, the two steel cords 14 can transmit the power with time difference. Therefore, they can drive those driven members demanding time difference in operation. In addition, the guide members 16 are positioned in different axial guiding direction, whereby the steel cords 14 can transmit the power in multiple axial directions for driving two different driven members.

[0027]FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which the transmission cylinder 20 is a bi-directional operable cylinder. A piston 21 is disposed in the transmission cylinder 20 to divide the interior space thereof into a third space 201 and a fourth space 202. One side of the third space 201 is formed with a second through hole 22 and one side of the fourth space 202 is formed with a third through hole 23. The piston 21 is transversely movable between the third and fourth spaces 201, 202.

[0028] At least one steel cord 24 is disposed on the piston 21 and extends out of the transmission cylinder 20. In addition, the steel cord 24 extends into a guide member 25 which in this embodiment is a conduit or a guide rail. The guide member 25 is positioned at a portion of a certain structure (not shown ). By means of push of the piston 21, the steel cord 24 can flexibly move along and within the guide member 25 to transmit power.

[0029] In this embodiment, the fourth space 202 is slightly larger than the total diameter of the steel cord 24, whereby when the piston 21 is pushed, the steel cord 24 is prevented from being over-flexed.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 6A, air pressure gets into the third space 201 of the transmission cylinder 20 through the second through hole 22 and is evenly distributed over the third space 201 to pressurize and push the piston 21. At this time, the steel cord 24 disposed on the piston 21 is moved and the air in the fourth space 202 directly escapes from the third through hole 23 and the steel cord 24 is moved along and within the guide member 25. Under such circumstance, the driven member B fixed at the other end of the steel cord 24 is pushed as shown in FIG. 6B. Accordingly, the power is transmitted to the driven member B.

[0031] When the power source is removed from the second through hole 22, the third through hole 23 is given power source and pressure is evenly distributed over the fourth space 202. At this time, the piston 21 is pushed back to its home position and the air in the third space 201 directly escapes from the second through hole 22. At this time, the piston 21 is restored to its home position and the steel cord 24 is pulled back along the guide member 25. Accordingly, the driven member B is restored to its home position to complete a cycle of power transmission.

[0032] The guide members 16, 25 of the present invention are soft conduits which can be freely conducted and arranged in a transmission mechanism. Moreover, the steel cords 14, 24 are flexible material which can be freely extended and moved within the guide members 16, 25. Therefore, the volume of the transmission mechanism will not be enlarged so that the room occupied thereby will not be increased.

[0033]FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the transmission cylinder 30 of the present invention, in which the gas is ignited and explodes. One side of the transmission cylinder 30 is formed with an inlet 31 and an igniter 40 is disposed near the inlet 31. A sealing cap 32 is disposed on the other side of the transmission cylinder 30. The sealing cap 32 is formed with a through hole 321. A piston 33 is mounted in the transmission cylinder 30 to divide the interior space thereof into a fifth space 301 and a six space 302.

[0034] At least one flexible member is disposed on the piston 33 distal from the inlet 31. In this embodiment, the flexible member is a steel cord 34 which outward extends through the through hole 321 of the sealing cap 32. A resilient member 35 is fitted around a section of the steel cord 34 inside the transmission cylinder 30. Two ends of the resilient member 35 respectively abut against the adjacent sides of the piston 33 and the sealing cap 32. In this embodiment, the resilient member 35 is a compression spring. In normal state, the resilient member 35 makes the sixth space 302 larger than the fifth space 301. The inner diameter of the resilient member 35 is slightly larger than the total diameter of the steel cord 34, whereby when the piston 33 is pushed, the steel cord 34 is prevented from being over-flexed.

[0035] In addition, the steel cord 34 is extended into a guide member 36 which in this embodiment is a conduit or a guide rail. The guide member 36 is fixed at a portion of a certain structure (not shown ). By means of push of the piston 33, the steel cord 34 can flexibly move along and within the guide member 36 to transmit power.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 8A, the gas gets into the fifth space 301 of the transmission cylinder 30 through the inlet 31 and ignited by the igniter 40. The gas explodes to pressurize and push the piston 33 to compress the resilient member 35. At this time, the air in the sixth space 302 directly escapes from the sealing cap 32 and the steel cord 34 disposed on the piston 33 is moved along and within the guide member 36. Under such circumstance, the driven member C fixed at the other end of the steel cord 34 is pushed as shown in FIG. 8B. Accordingly, the power is transmitted to the driven member C.

[0037] According to the above arrangement, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0038] 1. The present invention can transmit power in multiple axial directions. The piston in the transmission cylinder is drivingly connected with at least one steel cord and the guide member for guiding the steel cord is arranged in a direction other than the axis of the piston. Therefore, when the transmission cylinder is driven by a power source, the multiple steel cords can at the same time transmit power to multiple driven members in multiple axial directions.

[0039] 2. The present invention has fewer components. The present invention is composed of a transmission cylinder, a steel cord and a guide member to achieve power transmission in different axial direction. The assembly of the present invention is simple and the volume of the assembled mechanism is not enlarged and the interior space of the mechanism is not occupied.

[0040] 3. The present invention is able to transmit power with time difference. The multiple steel cords can have different lengths. When the piston is pushed, the steel cords can transmit power to the driven members with time difference. Therefore, they can drive those driven members demanding time difference in operation.

[0041] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A transmission cylinder without axial limitation, the transmission cylinder being a close cylinder in which a piston is disposed to divide the transmission cylinder into a first space and a second space, two sides of the transmission cylinder being respectively formed with an inlet and a through hole communicating with the interior of the transmission cylinder, at least one flexible member being connected with one side of the piston and extended out of the transmission cylinder through the through hole.
 2. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet is formed on one side of the first space, while the flexible member is disposed on one side of the piston distal from the inlet.
 3. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein a resilient member which is a compression spring is fitted around the flexible member, two ends of the resilient member respectively abutting against one side of the piston and the wall of the transmission cylinder, an inner diameter of the resilient member being slightly larger than the total diameter of the flexible member.
 4. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a steel cord.
 5. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible member extends within a guide member.
 6. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission cylinder is a bi-directional operable cylinder and the second space thereof is formed with a second through hole.
 7. The transmission cylinder without axial limitation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission cylinder using gas which is ignited and explodes, an igniter being disposed near the inlet, a resilient member being fitted around the flexible member, two ends of the resilient member respectively abutting against one side of the piston and the wall of the transmission cylinder. 